Doze off comfortably every night on tour, in the roomy Bandit 1400mm Swag from 23ZERO.
This double-sized swag features near-vertical walls for interior space and is constructed from fully seam-sealed 400gsm proofed canvas with a heavy-duty HF welded PVC bucket floor for protection. The freestanding design allows you to use it on own or with a stretcher, and the four-way entry makes access easy. It’s got super-fine mesh for airflow and insect protection, while the with zip-down storm cover and all-weather awnings protect you in adverse conditions.
You’ll rest comfortably on the 70mm hi-density thick foam mattress which can easily be kept clean thanks to the poly-cotton cover, and it comes with a roomy carry bag so that it’s easy to pack it up when it’s time to head home. For reliable shelter that can be used year-round for camping and touring, you can’t go past the Bandit 1400mm Swag from 23ZERO.
Which swag is better overall? I understand one is wider and they are different shapes but in your opinion which, sets up faster, comfier, head height room, access in and out, functionality etc
G'day Greg,
Which one is better is purely subjective, and depends entirely on your need.
The Outbreak has more head room, is easier to get in and out of, and has abit more versatility with the sides and roof being able to be fully opened for summer sleeping...but it is heavier and packs up bigger, and is difficult to find a replacement or upgraded mattress that will fit.
The Bandit is lighter and packs smaller, can easily have an upgraded mattress, and has the option of adding a segmental swag fly to help manage condensation and give axtra awning space. If you wanted to use with a double stretcher at some stage in the future, the Bandit is suitable for this due to the footprint, but access is more challenging with the smaller entry points, and theres less overall internal space.
Deciding which one is the better option for you is largely down to considering all these factors, and working out which features or elements are most important to you.
Hi just wondering how many pegs are supplied in the peg bag for this model? And do you supply replacement canvas peg bags?
G'day Luke,
You'll get around 10 pegs plus some spares, which is more than enough to set up the base and the end window gussets. There are generic canvas peg bags that you can get, but they're not 23Zero specific.
I don't have any experience with canvas tents, how waterproof would this be, compared to the more common polyester and nylon tents? Thanks
They are just as waterproof as any good quality tent, Alexander. I’ve actually slept in a 23Zero Bandit swag at a very wet camp oven festival in Queensland this year, and despite there being an inch of water most of the way around the swag I was warm and dry inside. ~ Ben
is the swag bag that it comes with waterproof?
G'day Brett,
They're not a waterproof bag specifically - they may be okay on the roof racks in a light shower, but if you're expecting anything more than that we'd recommend wrapping them up in a tarp or finding a fully waterproof alternative
Hi guys, We're looking at swapping to this swag from the Darche Interpidor 1400, where we usually sleep with our dog at the foot of the sleeping area. Are they similar in sleeping area, or should we look in to a separate sleeping area for our four legged friend? (And do you have any recommendations?)
G'day Will,
The Intrepidor has an extra 40cm or so of length in the sleeping area where your doggo probably comfortably lies.
Most double swags will sit at around 2m long, so its basically a head to foot type situation.
I'd recommend having a look at the Nebula 1550 PLUS, its been an awesome option for people with dogs as the have their own sleeping space, and you can configure the doorways to suit your needs.
Another consideration could be the Duke swag with the optional Annex, or potentially even the Woof Den - although your doggo wouldn't technically be sleeping with you.
How long do you recommend leaving the mattress laid out before using the first time?
G'day John,
It comes in its compressed state and will probably take a day or two before being ready for use, but be aware it may take a couple of trips of actually being used for it to get to its full and final stage.
Hi, just wondering if you think the 1400 is a bit big for just one person? I thought it could be handy to have extra space so I can store some stuff inside rather than out. Trying to determine if it's necessary. Also if I added the fly, what would be the overall dimensions then?
G'day Chief,
1400 refers to the width, of 1.4m. It is classed as a double, but you can use the width or sleeping area dimensions to determine if this would be a good size for you.
If you cant get into a store to check it out in person, a common way is to use some masking tape or something to mark out the size on the loungeroom floor.
Whether or not it is necessary would be a personal decision, based on how much room you're after, and how much stuff you'd like to store.
If you are after a fly, it would be the Segmental Dome Swag Fly, which has external dimensions of 325L x 280W cm.
Hope that helps!
Is the storage bag suitable for traveling with the swag on the roof rack? Is it dust and water proof?
G'day Alan,
The swag bags are fairly weather proof, however they aren't classified as dust or waterproof, mainly due to the zipper. They have an 800mm waterhead rating so will keep some water out, but if you're travelling when it is very wet, we'd recommend pairing it with a tarp, or a rooftop box/PVC bag.
hey does anyone know what the small black metal tube is for that comes with the poles thanks :)
G'day Tylah,
The small black tube is an emergency repair splint, in case you damage a pole in the field, and need something to brace it with.
Would you fit 2 adults and 2 small kids in it? Thanks
G'day Chris,
Possibly, if the kids are very small (under 5 size).
It might be worth getting some masking tape out, and taping out the floor size, and giving it a whirl to see if it would work for your family.
Hello. Do you know what the size of this swag is if you rolled it up without the mattress. I am wanting to fit it in my pod but it would be too high at the current packed dimensions.
G'day Finn,
We dont have a pack size without the mattress, sorry, but Darche used to do a 'clean skin' version of their Dirty Dee swag (no mattress), which is very similar in size and shape to the Bandit.
The packed dimensions of this were 100L x 30W x 26H, so I'd be confident this would be around that same as the Bandit with mattress removed.
Will it damage the swag if folded longways and then rolled up?
G'day Joel,
If you remove the mattress and store/pack that separately, you should be able to fold the swag in half and then roll-up.
It's quite likely that you'll get a much less manageable swag roll though.
If you do decide to try it out, let us know how you go!
For added comfort can you swap the bed base out for something thicker like the Zempire bed base and if so can it still be rolled up ?
G'day Joe,
Yes you can, just bear in mind some self-inflating double mats won't be the full 1400 width, they're often more around the 1300/1350 mark.
In terms of rolling up with the swag, you shouldn't have any issues as those mats tend to squish down pretty flat and most of them these days have a one way valve which makes rolling up with a swag pretty easy.
It's super common for people to swap out the standard foam ones with self inflating options like the Zempire Monstamat.
What stretcher is suitable to use with this Swag?
G'day Joe,
We've had this question on the 23Zero 1400 swags before. You can definately pop the bandit 1400mm on a stretcher, however, all of the double-width stretchers have a bar running down the centre, so you'll end up with two fairly distinct hollows on either side for each person. If that works for you, then the Oztrail Easy Fold Queen Stretcher and the Kamp-Rite Queen Kwik Cot are good options that will fit the width of this swag.
where is it made.
G'day Haydn,
There are multiple components that are sourced from different manufacturing nations, but 23 Zero (like the majority of canvas camping brands) is primarily made in China.
Apart from the pole set up, what’s the benefits of the Bandits? Is it worth the extra money? Looking at 2 swags for kids 14 and 12. What would you suggest?
G'day Brian,
You've hit the main difference between these two swags on the head. The design of the Bandit means there are extra poles, and will be a little more stable and strong in variable weather conditions. The window configuration means that there is more flexibility for varied temperatures, and will be a little better in very cold conditions, where you might need more flexible wventilation to reduce condensation. Overall the Dual Swags will be easier for the kids to set up, but the Bandits are a slightly better design if that's what you're looking for.
What would you recommend for a fly setup?
G'day Anne-marie,
The 23 Zero Segmental Dome Swag Fly is designed for the Bandit Swag series, all sizes.
Hope that helps!
Just wondering if the darche hutch will fit onto the bandit 1400 want to get one for my dog
G'day Mitch,
The Darche Hutch is designed to fit 1100 wide swags, however it can be used with 1400 swags, you just won't be able to fit the skirt flap over your swag poles. The Hutch is self-supporting when you use the guy ropes, so if you butt it up against the end of your Bandit 1400, then you'll still be able to keep an eye on the dog, it will just be a little narrower.
Is there a strip light available that can be mounted permanently or is it best to have a lantern. I would prefer a warm yellow LED light.
G'day Hilton,
I've seen lots of different lighting setups in the bandit swag, generally, we'd advise against a permanent strip light, as they might get damaged during the rolling/unrolling process. The Luci Solar String Lights are popular, or a Hard Korr lighting bar with 3 colour dimmer.
Hey, what are the pack down dimensions?
G'day Amanda,
The packed dimensions are: 150L x 45W x 45H cm, this is the size of the bag too.
Is it possible to roll this swag up with the 23Zero Alaska Black Sleeping Bag 1400?
G'day Kris,
You should be able to roll the Bandit up with an Alaska sleeping bag inside and just fit it in the bag, however you might need to have a few cracks to get the technique right.
How does this compare to the darche dirty dee and which would you recommend? The pack down size of this is a lot bigger than the dirty dee - is the packed size accurate and could this swag be packed up with bedding and still fit in the bag?
G'day Tim,
The Bandit 1400 is a great option and quite comparable to the Darche Dirty Dee 1400. The main difference comes down to the weight of the canvas, and the thickness of the mattress. The 23Zero mattress is thicker at 7cm which contributes to the larger packed size. If you add bedding to the roll you might find it a struggle to pop it back in the bag. Best bet will be to keep the pillow out of the roll as that will contribute the most bulk.
Hi in your video for the 23Zero roof top tent he shows that the underside of the mattress is a waterproof polly, is it the same for the cover for the mattress in this swag? If not do you sell a type of cover like it or do you know where I could get one.
G'day Zach,
The mattress in the Bandit Swag is just plain foam, with polycotton cover. The Bandit Swag has a PVC floor which will stop any rising damp from the ground.
Just asking
G'day Aaron,
Yes, you'll need to season your Bandit Swag, any canvas product will need to be seasoned before it's first use.
G'day Aaron,
You can read more about zippers on this great blog piece that Ben has just written, he explains the different zipper types.
Is pvc floor stronger than a canvis floor?
G'day Aaron,
The Bandit 1400 is safe for older children, if they're old enough to be in their own separate tent, then they should be fine in the swag. PVC is a different type of fabric to canvas, but there is no direct strength comparison between the two. Essentially PVC is usually used in the base of swags to protect you from rising damp from the ground.
Want something that is waterproof to protect the swag
G'day David,
The only PVC Bags we currently sell that will fit the Bandit Swag 1400 are the Nero 240 Gear Bags. You can find them here.
Is it midgie/mozzie proof or just mozzie proof...
G'day Tim,
I've checked out our display model and the mesh is super fine but I would be reluctant to say its completely midgie proof - mozzies definitely, but not midgies or sandflys.
Just a tip, there are 3 included poles (head, middle, bottom), the bottom is slightly smaller and needs to go there, other wise the swag wont setup correctly and you risk damaging the poles.
Thanks for the tip David :)
Wondered if you had a camp stretcher to match this swag?
G'day Mark,
Unfortunately, there isn't a perfectly matched stretcher for the Bandit Swag, sorry mate! The closest fit you're going to get is OZtrail's Easy Fold Queen Stretcher. This one has dimensions of 200L x 144W x 42H cm so you've got the same length as the swag but you'll come up just a few cms short in width. This may not be a big deal, however, you'll need to cater for the extra 42cm height if wanting to peg out your guys and awning. It's also worth remembering that being a Queen size stretcher, it does have a centre support bar running the length of the bed. Hope that helps :)
I'm thinking of purchasing this swag and would like to know if there is a self inflating mattress in your range that would fit inside?
G'day Will,
The Bandit Swag 1400 is 135cm wide in the sleeping area so there are a few self-inflating options that will suit. The Blackwolf Mega Deluxe Double will suit, the length will be a tiny bit over but it shouldn't create any issues. The Zempire Monstamat will also suit, with the same length related issue, it will fit but will just be a little snug.
The 23Zero website shows the weight of the 1400 as 14.5kg while your description shows the weight as 19kg. Just wondering which is the correct weight?
G'day Neil,
I've just double checked, and our weight measure has the little orange tick next to it which means we've physically weighed it ourselves with some accurate scales. We are confident it is 19kg.
Definitely weight not as listed on the 23 website so agree with Snowys weight